A tribute to Mr B W Roberts

His life was gentle, and the elements mixed so well in him that Nature might stand up and say to all  the world, “This was a man.”

Dear Bishopites and friends.

Am putting a few words together to salute a giant of a man – a leader of leaders, a God fearing individual and a gentleman to the core.

 Mr B W Roberts is no more in our midst  but his legacy will live on ,as he joins his master and takes his place at the table reserved for the chosen ones .

As I join a lot of old boys in Pune in spirit ,to condone and pray for his  beloved soul , I cannot help but reflect on the 20 years I spent in Bishops – 18 working under Mr Roberts- 18 of the best years in my life .

He gave me a job in Bishops without even interviewing me – he knew my mother from his Allahabad days  and then trusted the recommendation of two of my good friends who were in Bishops at that time – Alan Seymour and Michael Gomes .

I reached Pune on a wet afternoon and after a quick bath was taken to meet Mr Roberts . He was in the bungalow and he welcomed me warmly. I had never visited a Principal in his house before but his first few words were enough to make me feel happy and secure – “welcome to Bishops my boy and if you need anything come and ask me”. We then had a cup of tea and ‘bhajiyas’ and talked about Allahabad , our common hometown .

I also met Mrs Roberts and Jean that day and it was the beginning of a lifelong friendship with the family . Although I lead a large number of schools with thousands of pupils in the UAE now , everything I know about Leadership was learnt from Mr Roberts – by listening , observing and working closely with him . He was my mentor , guide and a father figure to many .

He was a tough leader, he knew his mind, was very determined, loved to build, & was a strict disciplinarian. The word can’t was not in his dictionary and he loved a challenge.

Who can forget Mr Roberts on his beloved Luna- wearing his Academic gown and zipping around ! There are a million memories….

Mr Roberts at Assembly – an imposing figure at the mike – leading the prayers and hymns – his booming voice setting the tone for the day. When he was in a good mood, assemblies were fun. If something had gone wrong, there was pin drop silence in the hall and everyone (teachers included ) left in silence after assembly  .Then there was the dreaded mark reading . If you were among the top 15 in the class , all was well – if anywhere among the failures you felt like sinking into the floor because Mr Roberts made sure he blasted the day lights out of you “ Take 3 steps forward “ were words no boys wanted to hear and which I am sure many will remember even today !

What about meal times – when he walked around the dining hall, and joked with the MOD and some favourite boarders. He made sure he had a word with the bearers and cooks as well.

Founders week- the church service where he gave the sermon and talked about two types of people in the world- those who build and those who destroy. He loved the fete and the counting of the coupons and taking in the accounts to see how much profit had been made. He made sure that all those who were helping him with the job at that time got an India Ice cream !! And yes – put the remaining gifts on the table !

Boxing was something he enjoyed as well and year after year he sat through all the bouts , cheering the boys on and pulling Aspi Irani’s leg !( Boxers would remember Mr Irani )

The Prefect investiture ceremony on the uppers was another of his favourites as he announced the names and pinned on the badges. The speeches on such days were inspiring and so motivational

Although there were many old masters and teachers , all respected and revered , Mr Roberts, Mr D Beaman and Mr  R Ringrow – they made a great threesome and ran Bishops for years together .

When I took over as First Assistant Master and later as Headmaster , I worked closely with Mr Roberts and Mr Beaman and go to know them both very well .

Mr Roberts loved to build – anything. A wall, a drain , a room- give him  something old to have  pulled down and something new to have  put up and he was in his elements !

It did not matter if it was early in the morning , in the blazing sun at noon or at 8 pm when everyone was ready to relax- if he had a plan , he made sure it was executed and he loved people to be around him .

We often got into his old ambassador and with his faithful driver Shinde took off for the “Chor bazar” at 5 in the evening where he personally bargained for and purchased furniture for staff quarters .

I often felt that in a previous life Mr Roberts was a building contractor cum engineer. He was an expert where buildings are concerned and knew plenty and more about steel, cement, sand, bricks, weights and measures, dimensions  etc. He was responsible in a very large was for the new Simba block and the entire new wing on St Margaret’s ground – both spacious , well designed buildings .

He spent many many days and weeks from 6 am till late at night overseeing the construction of both – it was truly a labour of love . Boys enjoyed working with him- lifting bricks, cleaning grass , removing rubble . It was part of the SUPW in Bishops . He would roll up his sleeves and work himself as well , such was his simplicity.

On the other hand he could have also been a lawyer – he had a cupboard full of law books and quoted the law comfortably. I was often quite amused when hearing him talk to the school lawyers and advising them exactly what he wanted done – he would then sit for hours pouring over first drafts and making changes and he was never wrong. He won all the cases he fought .

Mr Roberts loved his breakfast – Eggs, Toast and butter , Marmite , vegetables and coffee – he relished good food . Also vividly remember an old cook cum bearer called Harry who would bring Mr Roberts scones and juice to the office  at around 11 am   .If I was there I would be offered a biscuit or a scone and both were yummy . I am sure all would also remember his famous pipe which he smoked with relish .

There was one thing no one can deny – we were all scared of Mr Roberts and that included me the Headmaster , Mr Beaman the boarding Suptd, the Staff ,Parents  Servants , boys and even the very gentle Mrs Roberts . He ran a tight ship and as captain he brooked no nonsense. Often I would chat with Mrs Roberts about school and both of us would plan how to bell the cat the next morning! We would then go to Sirs office together – if we saw him smiling we would go in a discuss what had to be discussed – if there was any noise or shouting we would slink away to fight another day! We often asked Das his peon about Sahib’s mood and if the signal was green, we were relieved!

I could go on about Mr Roberts – him going into random classes and teaching Chemistry/ Physics/ Math . His walking into the billiard  room and taking a few shots (not realizing he was playing with the MOD who was  supposed to be on duty) , him firing parents who dared to question him , him sitting for photographs being taken by  Mr Jagos , him and the family attending the Friday movie on the uppers, him welcoming the old boys at the lunch after the Founders cricket match  , him attending the dorm feasts

Mr Roberts had no favourites . He treated everyone the same and he was loved for his simplicity and down to earth attitude. There were no airs and no graces.

Sir will go down in History as one of the longest serving Principals of Bishops-  the most loved and respected - and under whose guidance the school had a name like no other  .

Mr Roberts sir – WE SALUTE YOU

A tribute to Mr B W Roberts

His life was gentle, and the elements mixed so well in him that Nature might stand up and say to all  the world, “This was a man.”

Dear Bishopites and friends.

Am putting a few words together to salute a giant of a man – a leader of leaders, a God fearing individual and a gentleman to the core.

 Mr B W Roberts is no more in our midst  but his legacy will live on ,as he joins his master and takes his place at the table reserved for the chosen ones .

As I join a lot of old boys in Pune in spirit ,to condone and pray for his  beloved soul , I cannot help but reflect on the 20 years I spent in Bishops – 18 working under Mr Roberts- 18 of the best years in my life .

He gave me a job in Bishops without even interviewing me – he knew my mother from his Allahabad days  and then trusted the recommendation of two of my good friends who were in Bishops at that time – Alan Seymour and Michael Gomes .

I reached Pune on a wet afternoon and after a quick bath was taken to meet Mr Roberts . He was in the bungalow and he welcomed me warmly. I had never visited a Principal in his house before but his first few words were enough to make me feel happy and secure – “welcome to Bishops my boy and if you need anything come and ask me”. We then had a cup of tea and ‘bhajiyas’ and talked about Allahabad , our common hometown .

I also met Mrs Roberts and Jean that day and it was the beginning of a lifelong friendship with the family . Although I lead a large number of schools with thousands of pupils in the UAE now , everything I know about Leadership was learnt from Mr Roberts – by listening , observing and working closely with him . He was my mentor , guide and a father figure to many .

He was a tough leader, he knew his mind, was very determined, loved to build, & was a strict disciplinarian. The word can’t was not in his dictionary and he loved a challenge.

Who can forget Mr Roberts on his beloved Luna- wearing his Academic gown and zipping around ! There are a million memories….

Mr Roberts at Assembly – an imposing figure at the mike – leading the prayers and hymns – his booming voice setting the tone for the day. When he was in a good mood, assemblies were fun. If something had gone wrong, there was pin drop silence in the hall and everyone (teachers included ) left in silence after assembly  .Then there was the dreaded mark reading . If you were among the top 15 in the class , all was well – if anywhere among the failures you felt like sinking into the floor because Mr Roberts made sure he blasted the day lights out of you “ Take 3 steps forward “ were words no boys wanted to hear and which I am sure many will remember even today !

What about meal times – when he walked around the dining hall, and joked with the MOD and some favourite boarders. He made sure he had a word with the bearers and cooks as well.

Founders week- the church service where he gave the sermon and talked about two types of people in the world- those who build and those who destroy. He loved the fete and the counting of the coupons and taking in the accounts to see how much profit had been made. He made sure that all those who were helping him with the job at that time got an India Ice cream !! And yes – put the remaining gifts on the table !

Boxing was something he enjoyed as well and year after year he sat through all the bouts , cheering the boys on and pulling Aspi Irani’s leg !( Boxers would remember Mr Irani )

The Prefect investiture ceremony on the uppers was another of his favourites as he announced the names and pinned on the badges. The speeches on such days were inspiring and so motivational

Although there were many old masters and teachers , all respected and revered , Mr Roberts, Mr D Beaman and Mr  R Ringrow – they made a great threesome and ran Bishops for years together .

When I took over as First Assistant Master and later as Headmaster , I worked closely with Mr Roberts and Mr Beaman and go to know them both very well .

Mr Roberts loved to build – anything. A wall, a drain , a room- give him  something old to have  pulled down and something new to have  put up and he was in his elements !

It did not matter if it was early in the morning , in the blazing sun at noon or at 8 pm when everyone was ready to relax- if he had a plan , he made sure it was executed and he loved people to be around him .

We often got into his old ambassador and with his faithful driver Shinde took off for the “Chor bazar” at 5 in the evening where he personally bargained for and purchased furniture for staff quarters .

I often felt that in a previous life Mr Roberts was a building contractor cum engineer. He was an expert where buildings are concerned and knew plenty and more about steel, cement, sand, bricks, weights and measures, dimensions  etc. He was responsible in a very large was for the new Simba block and the entire new wing on St Margaret’s ground – both spacious , well designed buildings .

He spent many many days and weeks from 6 am till late at night overseeing the construction of both – it was truly a labour of love . Boys enjoyed working with him- lifting bricks, cleaning grass , removing rubble . It was part of the SUPW in Bishops . He would roll up his sleeves and work himself as well , such was his simplicity.

On the other hand he could have also been a lawyer – he had a cupboard full of law books and quoted the law comfortably. I was often quite amused when hearing him talk to the school lawyers and advising them exactly what he wanted done – he would then sit for hours pouring over first drafts and making changes and he was never wrong. He won all the cases he fought .

Mr Roberts loved his breakfast – Eggs, Toast and butter , Marmite , vegetables and coffee – he relished good food . Also vividly remember an old cook cum bearer called Harry who would bring Mr Roberts scones and juice to the office  at around 11 am   .If I was there I would be offered a biscuit or a scone and both were yummy . I am sure all would also remember his famous pipe which he smoked with relish .

There was one thing no one can deny – we were all scared of Mr Roberts and that included me the Headmaster , Mr Beaman the boarding Suptd, the Staff ,Parents  Servants , boys and even the very gentle Mrs Roberts . He ran a tight ship and as captain he brooked no nonsense. Often I would chat with Mrs Roberts about school and both of us would plan how to bell the cat the next morning! We would then go to Sirs office together – if we saw him smiling we would go in a discuss what had to be discussed – if there was any noise or shouting we would slink away to fight another day! We often asked Das his peon about Sahib’s mood and if the signal was green, we were relieved!

I could go on about Mr Roberts – him going into random classes and teaching Chemistry/ Physics/ Math . His walking into the billiard  room and taking a few shots (not realizing he was playing with the MOD who was  supposed to be on duty) , him firing parents who dared to question him , him sitting for photographs being taken by  Mr Jagos , him and the family attending the Friday movie on the uppers, him welcoming the old boys at the lunch after the Founders cricket match  , him attending the dorm feasts

Mr Roberts had no favourites . He treated everyone the same and he was loved for his simplicity and down to earth attitude. There were no airs and no graces.

Sir will go down in History as one of the longest serving Principals of Bishops-  the most loved and respected - and under whose guidance the school had a name like no other  .

Mr Roberts sir – WE SALUTE YOU

CBSE exam fiasco

The news in Gulf news over the last few days has been depressing to say the very least. Three big stories emerged that have caused grave consternation the world over.

First, there was the Facebook fiasco with leaks galore – surely Mark Zuckerberg and his team of technocrats could have done better.  Now we see prominent individuals closing down their Facebook accounts. Is Facebook bothered at all if they do so, and does it help?

Then comes the Australian saga – excellent cricketers cheating blatantly. Does the crying and the apology exonerate the perpetrators of their dastardly act?  Is it some sort of a pattern? Has it been done before?

Closer home we have the CBSE paper leaks and  re - exams being ordered  in two papers  . If reports in the media are to be believed, the CBSE officials got wind of the leak a few days before the Economics paper for Grade 12 .  Why was the matter not dealt with immediately – was there no one to bell the cat ? Why did they go ahead with the exam in the first place? It would have easier and more appropriate to  postpone it.

Why were pupils made to appear for an exam, knowing fully well that it would have to be redone? These and many more questions are being asked and answers are not forthcoming.

At first, there was denial, then disbelief and then finally admittance. Social media, WhatsApp and ‘some miscreants’ were blamed for spreading rumours ! Then all hell broke loose and the cat was out of the bag .

HRD Minister Prakash Javadekar is now looking into the matter and has said that a leak proof system would be put in place for conducting Board exams .( Gulf News 30^th March )

 Strange words indeed – was the system for conducting the exam not leak proof earlier? . Were there chinks in the armour ?

So now there is to be a re – exam and that has brought with it umpteen headaches for parents, pupils and schools .

The schools in the gulf are in a quandary. A large number of pupils are travelling. Others have gone to appear for entrance exams in India while others are preparing to do so. Pupils were relieved that the exams were over – they had done well and were happy with the papers – it’s stress all over again now.

Various channels keep giving conflicting reports and that is compounding the confusion . While some say there is a re exam for all candidates, others say there will be no re exam outside India

This is indeed a sad reflection of the education system . In order not to lose credibility ,  the board  must take stringent action when the culprits are booked .  Parents are anxious and angry terming this whole matter as a farce and a joke in poor taste .

Come on CBSE- am sure you can do better

Michael Guzder

050 6568672/ 04 3372117

CBSE exam fiasco

The news in Gulf news over the last few days has been depressing to say the very least. Three big stories emerged that have caused grave consternation the world over.

First, there was the Facebook fiasco with leaks galore – surely Mark Zuckerberg and his team of technocrats could have done better.  Now we see prominent individuals closing down their Facebook accounts. Is Facebook bothered at all if they do so, and does it help?

Then comes the Australian saga – excellent cricketers cheating blatantly. Does the crying and the apology exonerate the perpetrators of their dastardly act?  Is it some sort of a pattern? Has it been done before?

Closer home we have the CBSE paper leaks and  re - exams being ordered  in two papers  . If reports in the media are to be believed, the CBSE officials got wind of the leak a few days before the Economics paper for Grade 12 .  Why was the matter not dealt with immediately – was there no one to bell the cat ? Why did they go ahead with the exam in the first place? It would have easier and more appropriate to  postpone it.

Why were pupils made to appear for an exam, knowing fully well that it would have to be redone? These and many more questions are being asked and answers are not forthcoming.

At first, there was denial, then disbelief and then finally admittance. Social media, WhatsApp and ‘some miscreants’ were blamed for spreading rumours ! Then all hell broke loose and the cat was out of the bag .

HRD Minister Prakash Javadekar is now looking into the matter and has said that a leak proof system would be put in place for conducting Board exams .( Gulf News 30^th March )

 Strange words indeed – was the system for conducting the exam not leak proof earlier? . Were there chinks in the armour ?

So now there is to be a re – exam and that has brought with it umpteen headaches for parents, pupils and schools .

The schools in the gulf are in a quandary. A large number of pupils are travelling. Others have gone to appear for entrance exams in India while others are preparing to do so. Pupils were relieved that the exams were over – they had done well and were happy with the papers – it’s stress all over again now.

Various channels keep giving conflicting reports and that is compounding the confusion . While some say there is a re exam for all candidates, others say there will be no re exam outside India

This is indeed a sad reflection of the education system . In order not to lose credibility ,  the board  must take stringent action when the culprits are booked .  Parents are anxious and angry terming this whole matter as a farce and a joke in poor taste .

Come on CBSE- am sure you can do better

Michael Guzder

050 6568672/ 04 3372117

The new Intimate

The New Intimate ( Anamika Chatterjee, 23^rd March ) made interesting reading  no doubt  but whoever believed that marital unions were fairy tales was living in a fool’s paradise . I do not pretend to be an expert on the topic but reality is what a marriage is all about.

Agree that having and raising a child are important milestones in a relationship and there could be problems galore along the way but rather than treat them as pitfalls, if we considered them pit stops, a lot of the perceived heartache would automatically be dissipated.

It is difficult to agree with Mathew Johnson . Supposedly, researchers have concluded that relationships suffer once kids come along. In lighter vein – when one is not sure – just say it has been researched!

The dynamics will definitely change says the research! – But then isn’t that stating the obvious? One extra chess piece on the board does throw things out of sync for a while but once things have been ironed out, the game can continue as usual.

With the feeding, crying, changing nappies, schooling, cajoling, and other mundane tasks that marriages entail, there definitely will be a strain at times. Arguments, disagreements and tears are inevitable.  However taking a heavy toll on a relationship is definitely at the other end of the spectrum. Don’t forget – its two adults , often with different personalities, backgrounds  and aims in life that have been joined together in matrimony and if you add in the ‘ arranged marriages’  then that’s another ball game altogether.

If anything, I have seen kids bringing spouses closer together and saving marriages. In the end, it’s all about expectations . If you expect your marriage to pan out without hiccups, you are expecting the moon .There are bound to be squabbles ,  issues and snares but nothing so drastic that cannot be worked out amicably.

What actually really separates contented couples from those in deep marital misery is a healthy balance between their positive and negative feelings and actions toward each other.

Volatile couples, for example, stick together by balancing their frequent arguments with a lot of love and passion. Others throw in the towel believing all is lost .

. I have seen a large number of couples  equating  a low level of conflict with happiness and believe the claim "we never fight" is a sign of marital health.

But I believe we grow in our relationships by reconciling our differences. That is how we become people that are more loving and truly experience the fruits of marriage.

Rather than blame kids , I would say that marriages require care , time, mutual appreciation , love ,  respect   , fun and energy to be nurtured . Immaturity, irrational behavior, ego,   resentment, blame, putting self before ‘couple’, and lies can  ruin a marriage.

Leave alone marriage, for anything to work involving human relationships, a lot depends on how much you put in and the same with marriage .